Imaging of SARS-CoV-2 infected Vero E6 cells by helium ion microscopy

Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology

article

Natalie Frese¹  Patrick Schmerer²  Martin Wortmann³  Matthias Schürmann⁴  Matthias König²  Michael Westphal¹  Friedemann Weber²  Holger Sudhoff⁴  Armin Gölzhäuser¹ 

[1] Physics of Supramolecular Systems and Surfaces, Faculty of Physics, Bielefeld University;Institute of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen;Faculty of Engineering and Mathematics, Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences;University Clinic for Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical Faculty OWL at Bielefeld University

关键词: bioimaging;    cell membrane;    charge compensation;    helium ionmicroscopy;    SARS-CoV-2;    Vero E6 cells;   

DOI  :  10.3762/bjnano.12.13

学科分类：环境监测和分析

来源: Beilstein - Institut zur Foerderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften

【 摘 要 】

Helium ion microscopy (HIM) offers the opportunity to obtain direct views of biological samples such as cellular structures, virusparticles, and microbial interactions. Imaging with the HIM combines sub-nanometer resolution, large depth of field, and high surface sensitivity. Due to its charge compensation capability, the HIM can image insulating biological samples without additionalconductive coatings. Here, we present an exploratory HIM study of SARS-CoV-2 infected Vero E6 cells, in which several areas ofinteraction between cells and virus particles, as well as among virus particles, were imaged. The HIM pictures show the threedimensional appearance of SARS-CoV-2 and the surface of Vero E6 cells at a multiplicity of infection of approximately 1 withgreat morphological detail. The absence of a conductive coating allows for a distinction between virus particles bound to the cellmembrane and virus particles lying on top of the membrane. After prolonged imaging, it was found that ion-induced deposition ofhydrocarbons from the vacuum renders the sample sufficiently conductive to allow for imaging even without charge compensation.The presented images demonstrate the potential of the HIM in bioimaging, especially for the imaging of interactions betweenviruses and their host organisms.

【 授权许可】

CC BY